Why F1 needs a Verstappen-Hamilton rematch in 2022

Formula 1 enjoyed its best season in many years with viewing figures through the roof as heavyweights Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen duelled for the 2021 drivers’ title.

Throughout last year, the title race ebbed and flowed with it all coming down to a controversial final lap at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi after a late-race Safety Car caused by Williams’ Nicholas Latifi.

Enough has been said about how the race in Abu Dhabi was handled by the FIA and former race director Michael Masi but regardless of whatever side you are on, it was a sour end to a legendary season with the subsequent protests and widespread toxicity about how the season ended.

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Despite the countless incidents with Verstappen and the manner in which 2021 ended, Hamilton has insisted things are still “normal” between the pair.

“You’ve got to be careful, the way people hype up drama, it creates a narrative for the fans - and for me and Max,” Hamilton said when asked about his relationship with Verstappen.  “We see each other in the paddocks, things are normal. We’re just two drivers and we have a sense of how much we both like driving.

“On the other side, we’re ruthless - that’s what you have to be - hopefully with a bit of compassion. We are fighters, there are no friends on the track. Some days we get it right, some days we get it wrong but it’s important we keep some respect.”

There’s no doubt that Verstappen and Hamilton are ‘ruthless’ with the former’s uncompromising, aggressive driving style likely to put further strain on their relationship again should the pair go head-to-head again this season. 

With the FIA introducing its own VAR-style system to improve the consistency of stewarding decisions alongside the introduction of two new race directors and return of Herbie Blash - a key man behind Charlie Whiting’s time in charge - there should be less scope for scrutiny and less room for debate.

2022 provides the perfect opportunity to right the wrongs of last year and help restore the sport’s reputation should Verstappen and Hamilton battle it out for F1’s top prize without any Abu Dhabi-like controversy. 

However, the Dutchman disagreed with the notion that F1 needed to recover from the events of Abu Dhabi.

“The sport doesn't need to heal, there are these dramatic moments which are part of the sport as well," he told the BBC.

“F1 is a very tough world. I think Lewis can feel the pain a bit less if you already have seven [titles].”

While Verstappen was fully deserving of the title last year, defeating Hamilton again would only cement his place amongst the sport’s legends. Conversely, Hamilton is going for an unprecedented eighth title as he looks to move one clear of Michael Schumacher.

If there are still any doubters, a rematch would surely help eradicate them, but how likely is it?

Red Bull ended the final test in Bahrain as the team to beat after a series of blistering laps from the reigning world champion to top the timesheets on the final day. 

Its upgrade package on day three in Bahrain shifted the tide in its favour with the usually stern-faced Helmut Marko grinning on several occasions as Sergio Perez went quickest in the morning session before Verstappen dominated in the afternoon. 

On the other hand, Mercedes appears to be struggling - admittedly, as it usually does in pre-season testing - with porpoising at the core of the W13’s problems. 

With Mercedes’ issues, Ferrari appears to be Red Bull’s nearest challengers going into this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix with the Italian team enjoying its best pre-season in a long time.

Ferrari has enjoyed great reliability and was consistently right up at the top of the timesheets with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz exuding confidence throughout the six days of testing.

With Ferrari potentially in the mix, we could be denied a direct Verstappen-Hamilton fight, but having Leclerc and Sainz involved would add to an already mouth-watering prospect.

Hamilton and Mercedes will also have to factor in their new man - George Russell - as he steps up from Williams for this year.

After five harmonious years with Valtteri Bottas which yielded four drivers’ titles in Hamilton’s favour and remaining unbeaten in the constructors’, Mercedes will have to carefully manage its young star to avoid what occurred when Nico Rosberg was in the team and the fractious atmosphere that caused.

Will Russell support Hamilton as Bottas did? Or will Russell’s talent mean he’s a big factor in this year’s title race and thus takes points off Hamilton? 

Russell himself has said he’s not thinking about the title but if wins are on the cards, he’s not going to back down.

“It’s not even something I’m thinking about, to be honest," Russell said after the Barcelona test. “I think it’s quite incredible how racing drivers’ minds work, that when you put the helmet on – doesn’t matter if you’re fighting for a win or, for me for the last few years, fighting at the back of the grid – you always get on with the exact same mindset.

“And I had the best example of that in Bahrain when I raced for Mercedes [in 2020]. For me, that was just another race, whether I was out in front or starting on the front row, the approach is the same, the mindset is the same, the work you put into the event, post-event, is exactly the same. So, work on the process and worry about everything afterwards.”

Verstappen is guaranteed to have the support of his teammate in Sergio Perez and that could prove to be crucial at the end of the season given that Hamilton is without his trusty ‘wingman’ for this year.

With entirely new technical regulations for this year that have focused on improving wheel-to-wheel racing and closing the field up, F1 could be set for another legendary season.

A rematch between Verstappen and Hamilton would be the perfect way to kick off F1’s new era as it hopes to move on from the controversial events of last year, but it’s definitely not a guarantee with Ferrari’s resurgence and Russell’s arrival at Mercedes in 2022.